Okay, so I missed yesterday, but if it is any consolation I did get a lot done. In addition to all the work I did I was also able for the first time in a long time to see a Chicago Bears game, and then late in the night a Cubs game. Seeing the Bears reminded me of the countless times I spent my Sunday afternoons on my grandparents’ davenport watching the game with my grandpa as he watched from his chair. It’s great to have those memories! PLUS the Bears won!

Today I have worked all day in preparation for our Bishop’s visit this weekend. It is a lot to prepare for, but I am on top of it. Amanda had to be in Delaware for work on Wednesday and Thursday, and tomorrow is our anniversary, so I have a lot of balls in the air. We will actually go out for dinner tonight to celebrate. Yep, she is one lucky woman!! ha ha!

Today is actually Deacon Dan and Merry Ann Conley’s anniversary. Happy Anniversary to you both! They have taught me a lot about marriage. Merry Ann talks and Dan just listens…..it’s a great model that I ought to follow more! No no no…they are a great couple. Dan does get to talk occasionally!

As for me, it is off to the shower! Dinner is pretty soon and it will be at our favorite restaurant, Charlestons. So much for my diet, but it is a celebration! Ben will be joining us, so romance is it the air (as well as croutons, napkins, and whatever else he will be throwing). we are looking forward to it. It will be a great time.

I hope you day has been as blessed!

Thanks for checking in and God Bless!

Tom+

Tonight Amanda and I (and Ben) went to take pictures of all the girls and their dates going to Homecoming tonight. It is always a good time, and we got a lot of pictures. It was also a good break in my day.

Of course this is the last Homecoming for my daughter. She is a senior, and just about every marker we get to reminds me at this time next year she will be away at college. It is hard to think about her going, yet as I gather with her and her friends (many of whom I coach in lacrosse) I realize that she has grown into a fine young woman. She and her friends are some of the finest people I know, and in the midst of the fear that she will be leaving comes the comfort of knowing who she has become and where she is going.

Steph is having a great time tonight I know, and for her and her friends I am glad. I still have some work to do, and it will be a distraction. But the reality is that I have been blessed.

Off to do a bit more work! Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

In an effort to get back on track, I have decided to post a bit earlier this evening. It has become apparent to me that my life is managed best in the midst of routines, but the reality of my life is that routines for extended periods of time are but fantasies. The blessing of these last few weeks has been that is has provided me with the environments in which to stretch myself. In truth, though I am struggling with a few things, in others I am excelling! Even my staff has said that I am doing far better than expected in the circumstances.

Tomorrow I will lead a Confirmation class at one of our missions for anyone looking to be Confirmed next week by Bishop Ames. (Parishioners from all our missions were invited to attend) I have led quite a few of them over the course of my career, but in these changing times the question is what will that class look like this time? It is from 11-2 and we did not have a sign-up for the class, so I am not sure who will be there, but I will be! From there I have a little bit of work to do in Kokomo and then a sermon to write for Sunday.

The blessing is that I love what I do. I know it can get trying at times, and I certainly know that my little “handicap” makes each day a challenge, but all and all, I couldn’t be in a better place.

So it is off, not to bed, but to do a bit of work……but at least this is checked off. Be patient with me. My wife will tell you that I am ALWAYS a work in progress. For now however, I am ahead!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Dear Lord, this is turning into my once a day every five days or more blog, and to be honest it is really nagging at me. It took me so very long to finally get my laptop and software issues resolved, but now that they are, you would think I could get back into a rhythm. Of course that would indicate some sort of normal intelligence, so I suppose that this just may be par for the course. I certainly still feel as if I am underwater, and it doesn’t look like there is an end to it until mid-October.

The good news is that I still seem to be alive and kicking. Scotty was sick today, but everyone else seems fine. Ben has a lot more energy today than others days because Scott and he did not get to wrestle all afternoon to wear him out. And since Steph was doing homework there was no one to tag-team him with me. Amanda hurt her foot over the weekend, so wrestling is out for her, but she doesn’t like the tights and masks we wear anyway so she normally doesn’t take part….a real party-pooper she is!

But the day is ended and Scott seems better, Steph is back to her homework, Ben is in a bed (whose is hard to tell), but with Amanda missing I am pretty sure it’s ours. AND, this entry here is a testament not only to my ending the day, but the recovery of a little bit of my mind. It is frustrating to not remember, but it does feel good when I do. Please keep praying for me that my memory goes at least to “selective” because that is really the only damaged memory type I feel I could live with….i.e. “I really do not know who ate all that pizza.”

Anyway, it has been a blessed day, particularly the end. My hope and prayer is that yours was blessed as well.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Yep, I begin with a quote from my favorite actor….Peter Sellers. It seemed quite fitting in that I have been struggling for a couple of weeks to get my laptop back to full-function all while spending tons of time in Kokomo finishing up the new facility, Christ the King, that launches on Saturday.

I have had a little time this morning however, just enough time in fact, to put the final tweaks on the programs. The website program is now back, and of course now I am able to post here. It is amazing what we can accomplish if we just have the time!

And I got the time by heading out of town. I am currently in a hotel in Arcadia, California where I have been to attend the consecration of one of my friends, Doc Loomis. Doc is now a Bishop in the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) and of course the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). He will be a good one too. He is one of the hardest working guys I know, and a great and Godly leader. I was blessed to be a part. AND, I will talk about the service within the next few days and some of what has happened out here too.

I had a horrendous time getting out here with flights yesterday. I was to be here with 5 hours to spare, but it was only an hour after all the mess…..partly my fault, and partly United’s. But hopefully the trip home tonight will go better. I land at 1:08 am, and am scheduled to be in Kokomo early the next morning. Let’s pray I am not driving directly there! I have a meeting here to go to before heading to the airport. So far so good…..it is looking like a smooth day!

Thanks however to my wife for working so hard to make my coming out here not just easier, but possible. She is a great gal. But I will not wake her up tonight when I get home. When she is asleep she is still a great gal…..but to wake her up a great gal BEAR! I will make it up to her!

Surfer-land greetings to you all! I am looking forward to returning home….after all, I am not very narly dude.

God Bless!

Tommy+

It is hard to believe how much stuff I have had to put back onto my laptop, and how many times I find things I have forgotten. It seems to be taking forever, but the great part is that my email and Internet is back up and functioning. I am good to go, at least for now!

The best part was being able to update our website to reflect the new mission, Christ the King in Kokomo. Our website is fairly elaborate and it takes a lot of time to make certain all the T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. And of course with all the papers and such I have in front of me trying to catch up, it was always a potential disaster! Fortunately it all seems to be done….thank God!

Anyway, I need to get a few things done still tonight…including something I just remembered! I hope and pray you had a marvelous day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Today Deacon Morgan and I spent all day in Kokomo to finalize our facility in that community. By 2:30pm we had secured and made plans to sign a lease for our fifth mission in less than three years, Christ the King Anglican Mission in Kokomo.

We are excited to get to this point there too. On Friday this was not the facility we planned upon, and actually as of noon today it wasn’t either. But when you open you heart to what the Lord is calling you to do, sometimes He surprises you! He certainly did so today! Christ the King will be a wonderful addition to our ministry across the state! Our launch date is September 12th! Keep praying that things continue to go along well!

Anyway, I will let this news stand alone! I certainly cannot top it, nor should I try. I will just give thanks to God for it, and ask that you do as well. He always blesses that with which He is pleased. And He is clearly smiling down on us and on Kokomo today!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Fr. Tom+

Awake all day, but an hour. All played out with Ben. The dogs are fed and watered and I appear to have made it to the end of the day, AND the best part is that I am exhausted and probably will be able to sleep through the night….completely. It is great to catch up, and be in the best possible place to get my sleep schedule on track! Thanks for checking back in. I hope to be “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” as my grandma used to say by tomorrow morning!

Goodnight and God Bless.

Tom+

It is just 5:45, but I have been up a couple of hours. My sleep schedule is all goofed up for sure, but after a couple of services in a few hours and some work around the house, I should be able to get to bed and get back on track. I am sure that a lot of it is stress related. My laptop, which I hope to get back tomorrow, really helps me get a lot done in a day. Plus, I have been working on quite a few things on it too. My mind just races wondering how I plan to catch up….if I ever get it back of course! I suppose that is a task best left for tomorrow.

Anyway, while I had a moment I just wanted to check in. I will try and post again this evening (if I am still conscious!) But keep me in your prayers. It is going to feel like a long day! So unlike any other blog I have done….good morning to you my friends and God Bless! I will check in later!

Tom+

I wish I were just forgetful about my blog entries as usual, but I am instead on a back-up computer tonight as my laptop is in the shop with that new, but vicious virus that everyone was warned about. Apparently even McAfee (my 24/7 Virus scan service) and the technicians at Computer Express (where we buy all our computers) cannot figure out how to solve it. When I went to PICK UP my laptop tonight (because they said it was done) it was still messed up. Maybe Monday, but I am not holding my breath!

Anyway, I just needed to post to let you all know I was still in the land of the living. I will do my best to get back online soon.

Keep me in your prayers, but especially my laptop! It seems to need it more than I!

Tom+